Passaic County Sheriff Richard Berdnik said officers Jose Vargas and Miguel Lopez spotted a vehicle with illegally tinted windows driving carelessly through Paterson at around 9:37 p.m., and stopped the car in near the intersection of Grand Street and Prince Street.

While speaking with the driver, 29-year-old city resident Julio Vargas, Officer Vargas spotted a marijuana cigarette in the car's cup holder, and ordered him to step out. During a routine search, the officer felt a bulge in Vargas' pocket, which he suspected might be narcotics.

Julio Vargas immediately pulled away and began to flee on foot. The officer caught up and wrestled him to the ground, and was hit with several punches, Berdnik said.

The officer eventually pulled away and drew his weapon, but Vargas "reached up with both hands, grabbing the barrel of (the gun)" according to Berdnik. Officer Vargas was able to wrest it from his grip, and punched Vargas in the face before placing him in handcuffs.

Police recovered a total of 215 glassine envelopes of heroin, a bag of marijuana, two partially-smoked marijuana cigarettes, $285 in cash, pipes, a scale and other drug paraphernalia.

A passenger in the car, 26-year-old Richard Garcia of Paterson, was also found to be carrying 10 glassine envelopes of heroin, Berdnik said.

Julio Vargas was charged with aggravated assault on an officer, possession of heroin with intent to distribute, resisting arrest, disarming an officer, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Garcia was charged with possession of heroin with intent to distribute, possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Both were placed in Paterson police lockup to await appearances in court.